The sound of the impact made Strange turn around.
Strange watched Mordo intently. "Sorcerer Ryan, he's coming."
Ryan's Super Brain was racing too, predicting everything from Mordo's speed and combat instincts to his footwork.
The calculations took no more than a few seconds. Ryan said in a low voice, "Two steps forward. Duck, and raise your Energy Shield."
"Okay."
Strange did as he was told. As Mordo closed in, Ryan kept issuing instructions.
When Mordo and Strange finally clashed, Mordo found Strange surprisingly hard to handle.
It was as if Strange could see the future. He blocked each attack before it landed, then countered.
Even Mordo had to admit Strange's footwork was slick.
Before long, Strange used Blind Spot to knock Mordo to the ground. Looking down at him, Strange said, "I won."
Mordo's face was tight with irritation. "Someone helped you."
"But I still won."
Strange's victory took everyone by surprise. The Training Ground fell silent.
After a long moment,
one sorcerer finally broke the silence. "What did I just see?"
His question was like tossing a strange fish into a school of sardines. The place erupted.
The sorcerers' voices rose one after another.
"If I saw that right, Instructor Mordo lost."
"Instructor Mordo got beaten by a novice sorcerer."
"All because Sorcerer Ryan coached him. Instructor Mordo lost to a novice."
"I'm stunned."
"So if Sorcerer Ryan coached me, I could beat Instructor Mordo too."
"Sorcerer Ryan is incredible. I want him to coach me too. Any kind of coaching will do."
"Sorcerer Ryan, coach me! Afterward, you can do whatever you want. Sure, I'm a man, but so are you."
The Training Ground descended into chaos. Mordo gave a rueful smile. "Ryan, look at the mess you've made."
"Isn't this mess because you lost?" Ryan seemed utterly